Blog Layout

Palladium

carrieawan • March 7, 2012

Discovered in 1803, this noble metal was not widely used in jewelry until Platinum was taken from the hands of jewelers to be used as a strategic metal in World War II. Palladium at that time was mostly used as an alloy with gold to make white gold. Because casting was difficult with Palladium, it actually had a higher cost than Platinum as recently as 2001. Palladium is still a challenge for jewelry designers and manufacturers, while many of the casting difficulties have been overcome, there is still work to be done to fine tune the manufacturing use of this metal.

At Jewelry By Design we began to use Palladium in 2006, we have found that it is a great option for fine jewelry because it has similar properties to Platinum. It does not tarnish or change color over time. It is a naturally occurring white metal; where white gold takes gold and adds alloys of other metals to make it white, Palladium and Platinum come out of the ground white and do not require any kind of plating to create their bright white color or maintain it.
A pair of platinum and palladium rings on a napkin
Palladium used in jewelry is 95% pure, as is Platinum. You will see Palladium pieces marked 950PD. White gold because of the other alloys involved is only 75% pure in 18k or 58.5% pure in 14k that means that you are getting more precious metal for your investment with Palladium. It also means that it is a great option for those who have metal sensitivities, because it is pure it is hypoallergenic.

Palladium differs from Platinum in its weight and its color. Palladium is the least dense of the Platinum Group metals so it weighs much less. If I put a Platinum ring in one hand and a Palladium ring in the other, you would be able to tell straight away which was which. It is also a slightly different color, although both are naturally white and retain that throughout their lifetime.

Palladium and Platinum will both scratch more easily than gold but their durability over time is unparalleled. Clients are often worried that the scratching is damaging to their rings. Actually, while it is visible like a pair of leather shoes being scuffed over time, Palladium on a molecular level is just being pushed around where white gold is actually being chipped away. This allows fine metal work and prongs to wear significantly better over time. Filigree work in rings from the turn of the century have survived in tact, where gold rings of the same work would have completely worn away.

Palladium has become an intricate part of our pieces at Jewelry By Design, its properties add strength and value to our jewelry and make it a great choice for clients who want affordable naturally white metal.

The post Palladium appeared first on Official Jewelry By Design Website.

By Tamara Voetsch February 11, 2025
Astrology-Inspired Valentine's Day Gifts: Perfect Picks for Every Zodiac Sign
By Tamara Voetsch January 17, 2025
Effortless Elegance and Timeless Design
A white gold ring with a diamond and blue sapphires
By Tamara Voetsch May 29, 2024
We get this question a lot. We hope this will help you decide what is important to you when selecting diamonds.
A bunch of pearls are sitting on a white surface.
By Tamara Voetsch October 31, 2023
There are several types of pearls, each with its unique characteristics and value. Here are some of the most common types:
A gold necklace with a white pearl pendant
By Tamara Voetsch October 25, 2023
Deco Pendant with Cultured Tahitian Pearl
A close up of a woman wearing a necklace
By Tamara Voetsch October 25, 2023
Routine inspections and cleanings help assure that your jewelry is in good condition. During an inspection, we will look for broken or worn prongs, weak clasps, or other damage before you lose a diamond or break a strand of pearls.
A white gold ring with a ruby and diamonds on a white background.
By Tamara Voetsch February 7, 2023
What is Viva Magenta?
A pair of gold octopus earrings with pearls
By TamaraVoetsch May 27, 2021
What are the main types of cultured pearls and what are their distinctive characteristics?     Akoya pearls are the small white pearls that most people picture when they think of pearls. They are saltwater pearls, and are usually round and white or cream, with a pink overtone and high luster. They are typically less than 9.00 mm.    … The post A Quick Overview of Pearl Types From GIA appeared first on Official Jewelry By Design Website.
A man and two women are posing for a picture and smiling
By TamaraVoetsch April 9, 2020
Are you homeschooling or looking for something different to do with the kiddos? Our partner and fabulous gemstone cutter, Roger Dery has provided us with games for kids of all ages. Link here to find your games! Scroll down for grown-up games.   Some of you may remember our GEMSTONE ROUNDTABLE EVENT with Roger and Ginger Dery several years ago.… The post Gemstone Games During Quarantine, or Anytime! appeared first on Official Jewelry By Design Website.
A pair of ruby and diamond earrings in yellow gold
June 17, 2018
This post is from the Gemological Institute of America’s website, one of the most accurate sources of gemological information available. https://www.gia.edu/ruby-history-lore If you are interested in learning more about gemstones, we recommend checking out this site. (You can ask us anything too!) History of Ruby Red is the color of our most intense emotions—love and anger, passion and fury. It’s associated with objects of power and desire—like fast cars and red roses. Early cultures treasured rubies for their similarity to the redness of the blood that flowed through their veins, and believed that rubies held the power of life. Ruby is one of the most historically significant colored stones. Rubies are mentioned four times in the Bible, in association with attributes like beauty and wisdom. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is called ratnaraj, or “king of precious stones.” In the first century AD, the Roman scholar Pliny included rubies in his Natural History , describing their hardness and density. Ancient Hindus believed that those who offered fine rubies to the god Krishna were granted rebirth as emperors. Hindus divided ruby into four castes, calling the true Oriental ruby a Brahmin. Someone in possession of a Brahmin was believed to have the advantage of perfect safety. Ruby has accumulated a host of legends over the centuries. People in India believed that rubies enabled their owners to live in peace with their enemies. In Burma (a ruby source since at least 600 AD—now called Myanmar), warriors possessed rubies to make them invincible in battle. However, it wasn’t enough to just wear the rubies. They had to insert them into their flesh and make them part of their bodies. The name ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, which means “red.” The glowing red of ruby suggested an inextinguishable flame burning in the stone, even shining through clothing and able to boil water. Ruby has been called the most precious of the 12 stones created by God. Ruby retained its importance with the birth of the western world and became one of the most sought-after gems of European royalty and the upper classes. Many medieval Europeans wore rubies to guarantee health, wealth, wisdom, and success in love. Desire for ruby is just as great today as it always has been. As a symbol of passion, ruby makes an ideal romantic gift. Consumers are drawn to the lush color because it also signifies wealth and success. Source: GIA.edu
More Posts
Share by: